In these COVID times, some people think they need to play zero-sum games. Those games are the ones where “I win, you lose.” While we might win short-term, we often all lose with zero-sum games. That’s because the game ends. However, there is another kind of game: infinite games. The point of infinite games is […]
Are You Playing a Finite or an Infinite Game? Read More »
I’m still in chaos about where we are as a society and where we’re going. Some of my friends are learning to live on a lower salary. Some of my consulting colleagues have trouble finding clients. Add all the civil unrest and all the COVID-19 unknowns, and nope, I can’t see into the future much.
Three Possibilities to Imagine Our Future Read More »
Way back when I was a programmer, we had an expression, “Don’t change the compiler in the middle of the project.” If you “upgraded” the compiler, the product might not work the same way. Fast forward to the present. I desperately needed a new computer. My old computer was unreliable. It crashed, slowed down, was
When Should We Change Our Environment? Read More »
I can’t seem to maintain my emotional balance. First the virus. Now the protests. I feel powerless and off-center. I am not in control of much. For those of you outside the US wondering what is happening: we have never examined the role slavery played in starting and building this country. Nor have we examined
What Do You Do When You’re Off-Center? Read More »
I’ve been thinking about how much power our elected officials have and how that varies by country. In the US, we grant power to the people we elect. And, we take back our power when we think they’ve gone “too far.” I live in Massachusetts, where we’ve had quite the outbreak of COVID-19. Our governor
How Do You Exercise Your Power? Read More »
We’re in a new—and uncomfortable phase—of the COVID-19 crisis. We’re balancing these different decisions: Our individual decisions to limit our exposure to others. (A personal decision.) Our society’s need for us to return to work. (Our governor’s decision.) Assuming our work is open, our individual decisions to return to work. (A personal decision.) We’re making
How Do We Decide for Each Other? Read More »
As I write this newsletter, we still have plenty of uncertainty about everything. One of my colleagues told me she had trouble getting her head “back in the game.” She had trouble starting her work. She had trouble finishing. She sees her list of things, and in her words, “I just want to start happy
Three Secrets for Making “The Game” Possible Read More »
I just returned from a (fiction) writing workshop this week. I learned a ton about craft, selling short stories, and publishing short stories. One of my big learnings: I play it safe too often with my writing. The stakes for the characters aren’t big enough. This is an opportunity for me. I can take this
When Can You Grab This Opportunity? Read More »
I spoke with a colleague and explained how I had improved writing over the past year. That person said, “I’m proud of you.” I said, “Thanks.” And, I wondered why this person felt pride in me, in my accomplishments. I was proud of my accomplishments. I’d worked hard. I’m sure my colleague didn’t mean to
Who Can Be Proud of You? Read More »
I’ve learned a ton about software projects. One thing I know is that any project that uses continuous integration (agile or not) has a better chance of succeeding. Not a guarantee, but a much better chance. I’ve learned other things I find necessary for successful software projects. Two of my favorites are the need for
Are You Too Busy to Continue Learning? Read More »